Synchro Swimming: Olivia Federici and Katie Clark will be Great Britain’s representatives in synchronised swimming at this summer’s Rio Olympics. The British Olympic Association yesterday announced the pair will compete in the duet event after they secured a quota place for Britain in Brazil in March. That had come after they both returned to the sport late last year, having initially retired in 2013. Both Federici, 26, and Clark, 22, took part in the team event at London 2012, coming sixth.
Tennis: Rafael Nadal’s wrist injury has forced him to withdraw from the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club later this month. The Spaniard announced at a press conference last Friday he was pulling out of the French Open due to the problem, but remained optimistic about his chances of playing at Wimbledon. The Aegon Championships take place from June 13-19, with Wimbledon starting on June 27. Nadal said: “I am very sad that my wrist injury means that I cannot play at the Queen’s Club. It is a tournament that I love. I enjoy playing in front of the British people and I was looking forward to trying to win the title for a second time.”
Cricket: England have been drawn against Australia at next summer’s ICC Champions Trophy, and will also get the chance to avenge their World Cup elimination by Bangladesh. New Zealand are the fourth team in Group A, while Pakistan and India will resume their rivalry in Group B alongside South Africa and Sri Lanka. The tournament’s opening fixture, on June 1 at The Oval, will be between England and Bangladesh. England’s loss to the Tigers sealed Eoin Morgan’s side’s early exit from the World Cup last March, prompting an overhaul of their one-day game.
Rugby Union: All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams has spurned lucrative moves to France as well as a return to Australian Rugby League in favour of signing a new deal to stay in New Zealand until after the 2019 World Cup. The former New Zealand Rugby League international and heavyweight boxing champion, who is hoping to win Sevens gold at the Olympics in August, helped the All Blacks to successive World Cup triumphs in 2011 and 2015. The 30-year-old said a call from coach Steve Hansen after last year’s World Cup final had convinced him to stay in the 15-man game in New Zealand.